Galloping toy horse



July 24, 1962 K. o. BRAUER GALLOPING TOY HORSE Filed July 7, 1961 FIG.5

Z4410. 75mm, 0 79 INVENTOR FIG.2

United States Patent 3,046,030 GALLOPIN G TOY HORSE Karl Otto Brauer,Mountain View, Calif. (424 Middle Turnpike W., Manchester, Conn.) FiiedJuly 7, 1961, Ser. No. 122,500 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-1177) This inventionrelates to what I term a galloping toy horse which can, in reality, be agalloping toy device or vehicle, characterized in any desired manner.The invention is more particularly related to such a galloping toy horsewhich is propelled by the rider thereof, and it is especially related tomovable animal toy devices which simulate the natural movement of someanimals, such as the gallop of a horse, the jumping of a dog or cat, orthe leap of a deer.

The object :of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse whichmay be operated by the rider to propel the toy horse in such a waysimulating the gallop, the jumping, or the leap of a natural animal.Another object of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse thefront legs and the hind legs of which are equipped with a separate pairof rockers. A further object of the invention is to provide a gallopingtoy horse the front legs and the body with the hind legs of which areformed as separate units, pivoted together, the front legs having anupper arm extending vertically through an aperture in the body of thetoy horse and carrying the saddle or seat. A still further object of theinvention is to provide a galloping toy horse the front leg unit ofwhich is swingable to both sides about the vertical axis, for steeringpurposes. A still further object of the invention is to provide agalloping toy horse as described, wherein parts are detachably assembledin order to make compact packaging possible for economical shipping andstorage. Other objects of the invent-ion are to provide a galloping toyhorse of simple, practical construction, which will be neat andattractive in appearance, rugged and durable in use, easy to operate,and a device which is Well suited to the requirements of economicalmanufacture and to safety requirements for the prevention of accidents.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a toy horse made according to my invention,dot-and-dash lines indicating movements of parts.

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section on line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 'III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section on line IV-IV of FIG. 1, showing thepivotal mounting of the front leg unit in the body unit, together withthe cardan joint for steering.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line V-V of FIG. 1,showing the spring mounting and the spring adjustment parts.

My improved galloping toy horse is formed of three primary detachableunits, namely the body unit 10, the front leg unit 11, and the springunit 12. The body unit comprises a partly hollow body with the head 13and the pair of hind legs 14 the lower part of which is equipped with orformed as a pair of aft rockers 15. The front leg unit 11 comprises apair of front legs 16 the lower part of which is equipped with or formedas a pair of front rockers 17, and the upper arm 18 on which the saddleor seat 19 is mounted. The front leg unit 11 is swingable about thepivot pin 20 which is mounted in the 'ice body unit 10. The pivot pin 20is the horizontal axis of a cardan joint, and it is mounted transversethe vertical steering axis 21. An elongated hole or slot 22 in the frontleg unit 11 provides clearance for turning the front legs and the frontrockers 17 a short distance to the right or to the left side, about thevertical steering axis 21, for steering purposes. The vertical steeringaxis 21 is supported in the front leg unit 11 by two flanges 23-, asshown in FIG. 1. Rubber bumpers 24 and 25 are mounted in the aperture ofthe body unit 11 for limiting the forward and backward movements of thefront leg unit 11.

The spring unit 12 comprises a tension spring 26, an adjustment screw27, an adjustment nut 28, and a bearing 29. The bearing 29 whichsupports the adjustment nut 28 is mounted in a countersunk hole in theneck of the body unit 10, as shown in FIG. 5. The adjustment nut 28 hasa square or hexagonal head 31 and can be tightened or loosened, using aconventional wrench. The lower end of the spring 26 is attached to theupper arm 18 in a slot by means of a cross pin 30 or by similar means.

Two stirrups or foot rests 32 are attached to the body unit 10, onestirrup at each side. A short rein, made from flexible or stiffmaterial, is mounted at the head 13, as shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, the rider sits on the saddle 19, puts his feet on thestirrups 32 and holds the rein 33 with his hands. Both rocker pairs, thefront rocker pair 17 and the aft rocker pair 15 are on the ground. Therider begins to rock by moving the Weight of his body forward andbackward. When the front rocker pair 17 is raised, and only the aftrocker pair 15 is on the ground, the saddle 19 moves downwards, and thefront rocker pair 17 moves forward, caused by the moment of force of thebackward movement of the riders body on the saddle 19 and on the arm 18over the pivot pin 20. At the same time, the spring 26 is expanded. Themovement of the front leg unit 11 is limited by the rubber bumpers 24and 25 in the aperture of the body unit 10. As the rocking movement ofthe toy horse proceeds, the front rocker pair 17 is on the ground, andthe aft rocker pair 15 is raised. tA-t this instant, with the weight ofthe riders body moved forward causing less moment of force on the arm 18than during the backward movement, the spring 26 draws the body unit 10and the front leg unit 11 together, causing the aft rocker pair to movea step forward, the same distance as the front rocker pair has movedbefore. As the rocking movement further proceeds, the aft rocker pair 15comes down on the ground after making this step forward, and the frontrocker pair goes up again and moves forward. Thus, the operationcontinues, the toy horse rocking and moving forward, step by step,simulating the gallop or the jumping or the leap of a natural animal.

The steering is accomplished by applying light pressure against thatside of the saddle to which the rider wants to turn, using his knee orthigh. The spring 26 pulls the front leg unit always back into thenormal straight forward position, after a turn. The initial tension ofthe spring 26 can be adjusted according to different weights of riders,by tightening or loosening the adjustment nut 28.

By reason of the simplicity and economy of construction, a toy device ofthe character described can be produced at a nominal cost, thusminimizing the retail price. Notwithstanding its simplicity and economy,the toy device will be strong, durable and relatively light inconstruction. Furthermore, it will be understood, that, by detachablemounting of the units, the toy device can be conveniently packed, storedand shipped in a condition requiring a minimum space.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising three detachablycoupled units, namely a body unit, a front leg unit, and a spring unit,said body unit comprising a partly hollow body, a characterized head,and a pair of hind legs, said hind legs having a pair of aft rockers atthe lower end, means pivotally mounting said front leg unit in theforward part of said body unit, said front leg unit comprising a pair offront legs having a pair of front rockers at the lower end, and an armat the upper end extending through an aperture in the body in verticaldirection, said arm extending above the upper surface of the body andcarrying a saddle for supporting a rider, said spring unit for normallymaintaining said saddle in raised position and for normally maintainingsaid front leg pair in aft position, said spring uni-t comprising anextension spring and a tension adjustment device at the upper end, saidadjustment device mounted in an opening in said head of the body, thelower end of said spring attached to said arm of the front leg unit by across pin, a pair of stirrups for feet support attached to said body atboth sides below the saddle, and a rein or a handle attached to saidhead.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivoted coupling of thefront leg unit the body unit comprises a cardan joint, having adetachable pin in nearly vertical direction mounted in the front legunit, said pin supported by two flanges mounted on the upper and lowersurface of said arm of the front leg unit, and a horizontal pivot pinthrough said vertical pin across the front leg unit and the body unit,said body having a wide enough aperture to both sides to permit thefront leg unit to swing about the vertical axis pin for steeringpurposes, said front leg unit having an elongated hole in nearlyhorizontal position to both sides of the horizontal pivot pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

